Scrooping composition



Patented Sept. 27, 1949 SCROOPING COMPOSITION Saul Kaplan, Teaneck, N. Jassignor to Onyx Oil & Chemical Company, Jersey City, N. J a corporationof Delaware No Drawing. Application May 16, 1947,

- Serial No. 748,663

1 This invention relates to improvements in the art of imparting scroopto fabrics, and more particularly to new compositions which are usefulfor that purpose. Of particular importance is the application of theinvention to knitted rayon, although yarn or other fabrics or textilesmay be treated in accordance with the invention. This applicationrepresents a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 453,416,filed August 3, 1942, now abandoned.

Scroop is a characteristic feel or texture of fab- 3 Claims. (Cl.106-135) rics perhaps best characterized as the crisp rustle of silk andother fabrics. It is common to treat many fabrics, particularly rayonand silk, to impart or increase their scroop. For this purpose silk istreated with soap and then with acid to liberate fatty acids on thefibers. Weak organic acids, such as formic, acetic, lactic, or tartaricacids are sometimes used alone, particularly with silk, as theseproducts are not ordinarily sufiiciently effective with rayon. Emulsionsof the higher fatty alcohols, such as oleyl alcohol, are used forimparting scroop to fabrics, particularly rayon.

In accordance with the present invention,

emulsions of butoxyethyl stearate are used to impart scroop to textiles,and particularly knitted rayon. These emulsions are of, the oil-in-watertype, with the disperse phase comprising butoxyethyl stearate and thecontinuous phase is an aqueous medium containing a film-formingprotective colloid, such as a gum, gelatin, or the like. In addition tothese necessary constituents, the emulsions may contain other materialsuch as emulsifying agents, preservatives, and weakly acidic material,such as a weak organic acid or an acid salt of an organic acid or anacid salt of an inorganic acid, such as aluminum sulfate.

The use of emulsifyin agents is ordinarily desirable to reduce the timeand power required to produce a stable emulsion; but care must be takenthat the emulsifying agent used is compatible with the otherconstituents of the emulsions and other materials in conjunction withwhich the emulsions may be used. Many emulsifying a ents exert a decidedsoftening effect which radically reduces the scrooping effect if used inany substantial quantity; but ordinarily effective emulsions can beobtained with the use of quantities of emulsifying agent too small tohave this deleterious result.

Preservatives in some instances are required be.- cause of theprotective colloids used. Thus if gum arabic or gelatin or some similarmaterial is used as the film-forming protective. colloid, it is ordi-'narily desirable to use a preservative.

The acid materials to which reference has been made ordinarily increasethe effectiveness of the other constituents in imparting scroop to thetextile. Some of them have a preservative action and so permit adecrease in the amount of preservative required. Acid materials are alsodesirable because they neutralize any alkaline materials left on thetextile in processing prior to the scrooping treatment.

Advantageously the disperse phase consists only of butoxy ethylstearate, together with a small amount of an emulsifying agent if anoil-soluble emulsifying agent is used. However, the butoxyethyl may beextended by means of a mineral oil, such as one of a viscosity of 50 to100 seconds Saybolt, at 100 F; Such a mineral oil may be used inquantities up to 50 or 60% without reducing the scrooping effect tooradically. Relatively small quantities of waxes may also be included inthe disperse phase, but if waxes are usedin quantities over about 10%,the scroop is 7 decreased and emulsification difficulties may beencountered with some protective colloids.

The continuous phase consists of an aqueous solution of a film-formingprotective colloid. Among the colloids which may be used are gelatin (asgelatin or glue), gum arabic, gum ghatti, casein, methyl cellulose, gumtragacanth, gum karaya, gum shiraz, starch, soluble alginates,

,polyvinyl alcohol, locust bean gum, casein-alumiammonium phosphate.

Both oil-soluble and water-soluble emulsifying agents may be used,including the petroleum sulfonates, mahogany. soaps, fatty alcoholsulfates, salts of alkylated naphthalene sulfonates, sulfocarboxylicesters (such as dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate), acylated proteindegradation products, higher alcohol secondary sulfates, alkylsulfonates, such as sodium cetyl sulfonate, sulfated oils, condensatesof alkylene oxides and fatty acids or fatty alcohols, soaps, such astriethanolamineoleate, as well as the various cation active wettingagents, such as the quaternary ammonium compounds, pyridinium compounds,oxazolidinium compounds, etc. Only small amounts of the emulsifyingagents maybe used, as most of them exert a softening efiect detrimentalto the scroop, particularly the sulfonated oils and cation activematerials.

The invention will be further illustrated by 1: i) the followingexamples, but it is not limited thereto.

Example 1.A ,scrooping composition is prepared from the following:

Pounds Butyl Cellosolve stearat 20.0

Gelatin 21) Sodium di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate :1

Sodium pentachlor phenate 0.2

Water .77.?

The gelatin is soaked in part of the Watenand the mixture is heated todissolve it. The di-isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate is dissolved in 2parts of the water, and added to .the gelatin. The 'butyl"Cellos,o'lvestearate, at a temperature of from 40 'to5'0 'C. is then added to thismixture while 'itis agitated rapidly, such as with a turbo mixer."Thebalance of the water and preservative isthen added. The mixturemaythen, if

desired, ibe passed through ,a colloid mill or homogenizer. A stableemulsion results, and if creamingoccurs on.prolonged storage, agitationwill restore its'homogeneity, and its usefulness is unimpaired.

Example 2.--A scrooping composition is pre- ;paredfromthe following:

Pounds .Butyl fCellosolve stearate v15 arabic. solution 5.0% suitablypreserved v6 Water .79

Ihe'materials are mixed and suitably emulsified. If 10 to pounds-ofgum-arabic solution are -used, the emuls'ification is easier.

' -Ewample 3.-A scrooping composition is preparedfrom-the following:

Pounds Butyl Oel-losolvestearate 16 flasein alurninum formate complex 50Water 34 EM .blityl fC.el1osn1-.ve,.stearate .isemulsified in thecasein-aluminum iormate complex at the temperature,ofiliquefactionoi thecomplex, and

thenlthe wateris added.

Example 4..=A 'skein of .euprammonium yarn, previously freed fromoilIand .size .by a conventionalfboil-ofi. and whichmay havesubsequentlybeen dyed, is worked in a bath .containingl to 5 of any ofthecompositions.of the previous examples. .The percentage is based on theweight of the ske'in, and the amountof the water used may be fromlO11025 times .the weight of the skein. After 15 minutes, the :skeirrisextracted, anddried. It possesses a firm crunchyfeel. .Ihe effect-issomewhat enhanced if from 0.5% to 2% of formic acid is added to'the'batha few minutes beforethe emulsion is introduced.

Example 5 .-Ra-yon "knit goods, scoured, anddyed, if desired, isimpregnated with a'-2% solution of any'of the emulsions of the fore-'going exam ples in a-suitable apparatus, such as a mangle. 5 Upon--d-rying, the goods have a ood scroop, and in the -case of someconstructions,

are brushed to produce a nap, still retain the scroop, despite the-mechanical working.

v:Eazample --6.-- Rayon knit Y goods are dyed, after scouring, in a reeltype machine, and the dye lhathris dropped. Themahine isfilled-withwater.at a=bout"100 F and "2% of an emulsion of any @I ':the .lpIBViOH-Sexamples :(based on the weight ofxdihe goodsifissadded. After running'15 minutes, the liquor is dropped, the goods extracted, and dried. 'r'mhereflect may :be increased-by adding,

suitably r l with the emulsion, about 0.5% of maleio acid, basedon theweight of thegoods.

Naturally some of athe .iemulsions illustrated above are more efficientthan others, and some tend to produce a more lasting scroop than others.,In general, an increase in the quantity of "butoxy' ethyl stearate inan emulsion increases its .eifectiveness,..th0seioontaining amounts ofbutoxy .ethyl stearate ranging up to 40% generally giving a be'tter and'more iasting scroop than those con- .tainingu10% or less, if used atthe same concentration.

In formulating any emulsion to be used in imparting scroop to a fabric,care must be taken that the various constituents are compatible and alsothat they. are compatible with other materials in {conjunction withwhich they .are to :be used. Thus, if the =film-iormmgraproteotivecolloid :used

"is gum -.arabic,. aluminum :acetate should .-not be included inthe-emulsion vas .its use willleadto precipitation :whenithe emulsion isdiluted, t-if not fabefore. Similarly, where the .emulsionsareztoJoe-used conjunction with rother. :finishes, .such as water repellents,iirerproofing compounds, and Weighting compositions,.ingredientswhich-are in- -compatible :with these .other finishes should .notbeinoludedii'in the lemulsions.

. When .anemulsifying :agent is useddn preparing the emulsion, itjis.usuallyibest to.make.a practical testof the emulsion todetermine:whatproportion of the emulsifyingagent .=can .be used withoutappreciably iafiecting the scroop. Most emulsifying .agents willsservetheir purpose effectively in Hquantities be'low .:those which produce .anoticeable effect upon :the .iscroop obtained with the final product,but nevertheless it is ordinarily advisable to test the material abeforeusing it.

I-claim:

1. A scrooping composition in the formiof an .oilein water :emulsioncomprising a-continuous phase :of an aqueous solution of V a filmforming organic colloid and "a dispersed phase including butoxyethy lstearate, the butoxyeth-y-l stearate "heing present in an amounteffective to impart scroop to nayon and silk when' treated with thecomposition.

' 2. A-scroopi-ng composition int-he form of an oil-in-water emulsioncomprising a continuous 'zphase -=of --an aqueous solution of analuminum formate-casein complex and adispersed phase including*butoxye't-hyl stearate, the butoxyethyl stearate being present in a-namount effective -"to impart scroop-to rayon-and silk when treated withthe composition,

3. Ascrooping composition the form of an oil-in-water emulsioncomprising a continuous phase-of an aqueous solution of gelatin andsodium di isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate and a dispersed phaseincl-uding' butoxyethyl stearate, the 'butoxyethyl-stearate beingpresent in an amounteiiectivetoimpart-scroop to rayon and silk whentreated withthe composition.

SAUL KAPLAN.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the 'fileofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,015,865 -"Mu11er Dot, '1, -19352, 69,303 :Ereyfuset a1 Feb. 2, 1937 12,176,402 Koch Oct. 1 7, 19392,130,331 M-osloer Feb. 13, 1940 122215124 iEll-is., .Nov. 1 2, I940Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,482,917 September 27, 1949 SAULKAPLAN It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows:

Column 2, lines 9 and 10, after the word butoxyethyl insert stearate;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oifice. Signed and sealed this 31st day of January, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommissioner of Patents.

